9) Texas
In Texas, the use of lethal force as a means of defense is permissible only if 1) the person has the right to be present at the location and 2) he or she has not provoked the person whom they use the force against.
A case in which Stand Your Ground was upheld in Texas involved a gentleman witnessing two burglars break into his neighbors’ home, and taking it upon himself to pursue them.
Joe Horn, 61, of Pasadena, Texas was on the phone with 911 illustrating his emergency when he picked up his shotgun and said to the operator, “I’ve got a shotgun; do you want me to stop them?”
The emergency operator told him not to, but he allegedly went over and killed the two men anyway. Horn claimed self-defense and was not indicted when he went before a grand jury.
To read more on the Lone Star State’s Stand Your Ground legislation click here.
